AI image generators compared.

«Studio packshot for an online shop. Image 1 is the product: keep its label exactly as it is, with STRAIGHT FACE at the top, the large 0.0 with a flat white line under it, and LAGER · 0.0% ALCOHOL · 12 FL OZ at the bottom. The can stands upright, turned slightly left, on a pale grey seamless sweep, with cold condensation on its lower half. One large softbox from the upper left, neutral white balance, a soft shadow falling right. Photorealistic, natural saturation, soft contrast. No other text.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 2 min 42 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 55 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 2 min 21 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 5 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 19 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 35 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 59 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 2 min 32 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 15 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 25 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 53 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 26 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 22 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 33 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A phone photo for an Instagram post. A woman's hand holds the can from Image 1 out toward the camera at a backyard barbecue in late afternoon, the label facing us and reading exactly as in Image 1. Behind her, out of focus, friends stand around a smoking grill. Low warm sun from behind, about 4500K. Honest and unposed, real skin texture, everyday detail. Natural saturation. No other text.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 42 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 38 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 28 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 14 s

   Turned her hand into a woman in a bikini top.

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 31 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 47 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 34 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 2 min 31 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 40 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 25 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 45 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 26 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 22 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 28 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A print poster for a beer campaign. At a wedding reception every guest is crying with laughter at a speech, except one man in a grey suit who holds the can from Image 1 and looks straight into the camera with a completely flat face. On-camera flash, the room falling into warm darkness behind. Across the top in large white bold condensed sans-serif capitals: KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE. The headline appears once. No other text apart from the can's label.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 34 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 23 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 29 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 22 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 32 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 39 s

   Added a full stop to the headline.

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 48 s

   Added a full stop to the headline.

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 2 min 40 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 23 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 29 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 49 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 27 s

    Added a full stop to the headline.

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 25 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 30 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A photo of a billboard for a client presentation. A large billboard on a brick wall above a corner bar at dusk. On it, on a flat black background: the can from Image 1, very large on the right, and on the left in white bold sans-serif: "Good question." Two lamps light the billboard from its top edge; the street below is wet, and a man walks past with his collar up. Cool 6500K dusk sky, warm sodium street light. Photorealistic, natural saturation. No other text apart from the can's label.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 2 min 46 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 21 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 1 min 26 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 22 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 22 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 40 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 34 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 4 min 14 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 2 min 26 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 30 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 40 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 27 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 23 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 28 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 1 min 2 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 1 min 4 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 44 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 19 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 13 s · see-through background

   Four glasses, not five.

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 29 s · see-through background

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 22 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 1 min 40 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 51 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 20 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 44 s

    Shaded glasses and a dark stout: more than three flat colours.

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 29 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 20 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    3 credits · 15 s

15. 

    Recraft V4.1 Pro

    Arena 1132 · 10 credits · 18 s

16. 

    Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG

    12 credits · 20 s

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 1 min 29 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 17 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 50 s

   Put the price mid-name: Straight $5, Face 0.0.

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 17 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 15 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 26 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 24 s

   The smiley smiles. The brief asked for a flat mouth.

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 1 min 18 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 46 s

   The smiley smiles. The brief asked for a flat mouth.

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 20 s

    The smiley smiles. The brief asked for a flat mouth.

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 35 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 33 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 28 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    3 credits · 16 s

    The smiley smiles. The brief asked for a flat mouth.

15. 

    Recraft V4.1 Pro

    Arena 1132 · 10 credits · 24 s

    Came back at 8:13, not the 9:16 asked for.

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A product photo for a packaging presentation. A cardboard six-pack carrier holding six cans from Image 1, on a white table. The carrier is matte black like the can, with the same large white 0.0 and flat white line on its side, and STRAIGHT FACE in white capitals above it, in the can's typeface. Soft window light from the left, neutral white balance, a gentle shadow. Natural saturation, soft contrast. No other text apart from the cans' labels.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 44 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 23 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 31 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 12 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 25 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 33 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 39 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 3 min 7 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 56 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 29 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 44 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 27 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 19 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 28 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A close photo for a website banner. Lager poured from the can from Image 1 into a tall glass: pale gold and clear, a thick white head rising, small bubbles streaming up. The can tilts in from the top right, its label readable. Dark slate background, one hard light from behind so the beer glows, neutral white balance. Photorealistic, natural saturation, soft contrast. No other text apart from the can's label.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 2 min 58 s

   The pour misses the glass.

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 19 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 1 min 28 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 1 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 19 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 39 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 29 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 2 min 45 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 33 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 28 s

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 37 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 30 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 2 min 24 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 26 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A 3D render for a sticker pack. The can from Image 1 as a cartoon character with short arms and legs, sitting on a bar stool with its arms crossed. The 0.0 reads as its eyes and the flat white line as its mouth, unchanged from Image 1. Clean toy-like render, smooth satin finish, soft global illumination, a plain pale yellow background. Saturated colour, gentle contrast. No text apart from the can's label.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 2 min 44 s

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 21 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 1 min 47 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 24 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 24 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 37 s · see-through background

   Left out the pale yellow background the brief asked for.

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 1 min 6 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 3 min 3 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 22 s

   Printed the 0.0 twice.

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 29 s

    Moved the dot off the 0.0.

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 51 s

    Put cartoon eyes over the 0.0.

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 27 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 22 s

    Dropped the dot and drew a second mouth.

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 27 s

    Printed the 0.0 twice.

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

«A vertical photo for a TikTok cover. A packed stadium stand right after a goal: every fan is mid-scream with arms up. In the middle, one man in a green scarf sits calmly holding the can from Image 1, his face completely flat. Shot from a few rows below, grey daylight, motion blur on the cheering arms. Honest and unposed, real skin texture. Natural saturation. No text apart from the can's label.»

1. 

   Nano Banana 2.1

   Arena 1325 · 2 credits · 3 min

2. 

   Nano Banana 2

   2 credits · 25 s

3. 

   Nano Banana Pro

   Arena 1232 · 4 credits · 41 s

4. 

   GPT Image 2

   Arena 1382 · 2 credits · 1 min 10 s

5. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Flare

   Arena 1383 · 2 credits · 26 s

6. 

   GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst

   Arena 1409 · 2 credits · 32 s

7. 

   FLUX 3

   2 credits · 29 s

8. 

   Riverflow 2.6 Pro

   7 credits · 2 min 47 s

9. 

   Seedream 5 Pro

   Arena 1250 · 2 credits · 1 min 34 s

10. 

    Seedream 5 Flash

    1 credit · 28 s

    The calm fan has no face.

11. 

    Qwen Image 2.1 Pro

    2 credits · 40 s

12. 

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Arena 1330 · 2 credits · 30 s

13. 

    Grok Imagine 2.0

    Arena 1289 · 1 credit · 22 s

14. 

    Krea 3

    5 credits · 30 s

Sat out: Recraft V4.1 Pro (takes no reference image), Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG (a vector model, run on the flat illustration only).

Arena Elo is the score on Arena’s text-to-image leaderboard on 6 November 2026, from blind votes on general prompts, rounded (CC BY 4.0). Arena may run a model at other quality settings than ours, and the newest models’ scores rest on fewer votes. Arena doesn’t rate Nano Banana 2, FLUX 3, Riverflow 2.6 Pro, Seedream 5 Flash, Qwen Image 2.1 Pro, Krea 3, and Recraft V4.1 Pro SVG as we run them.

Credits are our own quote for each picture on 7 November 2026, at the model’s default size; 1,000 credits are $50 of top‑ups. A wait runs from the click to the finished picture on that day, so the provider’s queue counts; typical is the middle of the model’s takes. Our Terms let you use what you make commercially, whatever the model. Makers’ own terms: model licenses.

It read the brand’s platform, looked at the can and came back in under a minute with two poster ideas, each with its own line, then drew both on Nano Banana 2.1, our default; name another model and it switches.

Good question · its pick

The can’s face painted huge on a bar wall, the can standing under it. The question on top changes from poster to poster; the answer never does.

Nano Banana 2.1 · 2 credits · 4 min 7 s from the ask

Added a third zero at the wall’s right edge.

The prompt it wrote

«A 3:4 campaign poster, a documentary photograph of a dim empty bar at night. The back wall is matte black. On it, painted in flat white, is a gigantic face made of two tall rounded zeros with a round dot between them and one flat horizontal line below as a mouth. The face is so large it runs off the left, right and top edges of the frame. A plain dark wooden bar top crosses the lower third. Centred on the bar top, directly under the wall's flat mouth, stands one matte black 12 oz beer can, shown exactly as in Image 1: a giant white 0.0 and one flat white line under it, 'STRAIGHT FACE' above in small white condensed capitals, 'LAGER · 0.0% ALCOHOL · 12 FL OZ' small at the bottom, silver top. Keep the can's artwork exactly as Image 1. One soft warm pendant light from above left lands on the can and leaves the wall mostly dark. Small grey condensed sans text at the top centre: 'Why a zero?' White condensed sans text centred under the can, medium size: 'Good question.' No people, no glasses.»

Second question

Every flat-faced drinker at the table turns to the raised can: “What’s that you’re having?” The room changes from poster to poster.

Nano Banana 2.1 · 2 credits · 4 min 45 s from the ask

Showed four faces whole; the prompt asked for mouths only.

The method behind the ideas: key visual.